Arctic Air Spreads Chill Over Nation : Wyoming Government Shuts Down as Foot of Snow Falls

Bitingly cold arctic air and freezing drizzle iced highways today from the Northwest to New England and south to Texas, closing scores of schools and one state government and prompting increased aid for the homeless.

The urge to play in new-fallen snow resulted in four sledding deaths in Washington. The weather also was blamed for 10 other deaths, including two by hypothermia.

Temperatures early today were below zero all the way south to the middle Mississippi Valley, with readings of 20 below zero to 38 below over the Dakotas, Wyoming, much of Montana, Minnesota and northwestern Nebraska. Austin, Tex., fell from a high Thursday of 69 to a low today of 28, and a freeze warning was posted for the lower Rio Grande Valley.

Record lows were scattered from Oregon to Iowa, including 35 below zero at Great Falls, Mont. Mason City, Iowa, had a low of 20 below zero, but wind gusting to 31 m.p.h. produced a wind chill factor of 78 below zero. Minong, Wis., hit 32 below zero.

In Montana, the first state struck by the frigid air that had previously stunned Alaska and slid over Canada, moderation of temperatures isn’t expected until Monday or Tuesday, and then it could warm only to about zero, said National Weather Service spokesman Robert Doherty.

Montana’s state government reopened today after shutting down the day before because of the cold and wind, but Wyoming Gov. Mike Sullivan closed his government because of the cold and more than a foot of snow. Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton gave state workers more time to get to work because of icy roads.

Many schools in Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Washington state and Wyoming told students to stay home today because of slippery roads and the cold. Some colleges and universities also closed.

Many cities stepped up aid to the homeless.

Shelters in Denver agreed to remain open during the day, rather than putting their clients out on the street until nightfall. The city also contracted with hotels to house homeless people.

Some homeless shelters in Oregon reported operating beyond normal capacity because of the cold. In Minneapolis, as many as 400 people slept outside overnight.